cpp-httplib vs got
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A single-header C++11 library for building HTTP/HTTPS servers and clients.
Open source · MIT
A Node.js library for making HTTP requests, with retries, timeouts, and JSON support.
The short answer
Choose cpp-httplib if you need…
- C++ developers who need a simple embedded HTTP server or client without a large framework
- Projects that want to avoid a complex build setup by using a single header file
- Teams that need HTTPS with a choice of OpenSSL, Mbed TLS, or wolfSSL
- Developers who want WebSocket, Server-Sent Events, or a stream API from the same library
Choose got if you need…
- Node.js developers who call web APIs from server-side code
- Projects that need built-in retries, advanced timeouts, or pagination helpers
- Developers who want HTTP/2, caching, or Unix socket support in one library
- Teams already using Got who want its plugins such as got-scraping or gh-got
Side-by-side
| cpp-httplib | got | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 17k | 15k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Clone and build from source | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 7 days ago | 7 days ago |
What each one is
cpp-httplib
cpp-httplib is a C++ library you add to a project by including one header file, httplib.h. It lets a C++ program act as a web server or as a web client that sends HTTP and HTTPS requests. It uses blocking socket I/O and supports HTTP/1.1 only, and it can use OpenSSL, Mbed TLS, or wolfSSL for encryption.
got
Got is a JavaScript library that lets Node.js programs send HTTP requests to web servers and APIs. It handles common chores such as JSON bodies, retries on failure, timeouts, redirects, and progress events so you write less boilerplate. The README also points readers to Ky, a related library by the same author, for most users who need browser support or a smaller package.
Best for
cpp-httplib
- C++ developers who need a simple embedded HTTP server or client without a large framework
- Projects that want to avoid a complex build setup by using a single header file
- Teams that need HTTPS with a choice of OpenSSL, Mbed TLS, or wolfSSL
- Developers who want WebSocket, Server-Sent Events, or a stream API from the same library
got
- Node.js developers who call web APIs from server-side code
- Projects that need built-in retries, advanced timeouts, or pagination helpers
- Developers who want HTTP/2, caching, or Unix socket support in one library
- Teams already using Got who want its plugins such as got-scraping or gh-got
Strengths
cpp-httplib
- Distributed as a single header file, so setup is just an include
- Supports HTTPS through three TLS backends: OpenSSL, Mbed TLS, and wolfSSL
- Documentation covers TLS error handling, custom certificate verification, and mutual TLS
got
- Feature-rich, with retries, timeouts, hooks, instances, and caching listed in the README
- Documented with a quick start, options reference, and migration guides from Axios and Request
- Actively maintained according to the README, with a large dependent count it reports
Not ideal for
cpp-httplib
- Apps that need non-blocking, high-concurrency socket I/O, since the README says this is blocking I/O and not the right choice for that
- Projects that need HTTP/2 or HTTP/3, which the README says are not implemented
- Targets that are 32-bit, since the README says 32-bit platforms are not supported and security reports for them are closed
got
- Browser-only projects, since the comparison table marks browser support as unsupported; the README suggests Ky instead
- Projects that use CommonJS, since the package is native ESM with no CommonJS export and the README suggests converting to ESM
- Anyone needing Got v11 support, since the README says v11 is no longer maintained
Trade-offs
cpp-httplib
- Blocking socket I/O and HTTP/1.1 only, which rules out some workloads
- The README warns that 32-bit platforms are unsupported and not security reviewed
- Some TLS behavior differs by backend, such as wolfSSL's certificate enumeration limits, so the docs must be read per backend
got
- Node.js only; the comparison table marks browser support as not available
- Native ESM only, which may require converting older CommonJS projects
- The README itself recommends Ky for many users, so Got may not be the first choice for simple needs
Getting started
cpp-httplib
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yhirose/cpp-httplibFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between cpp-httplib and got?
cpp-httplib: A single-header C++11 library for building HTTP/HTTPS servers and clients. got: A Node.js library for making HTTP requests, with retries, timeouts, and JSON support. cpp-httplib suits c++ developers who need a simple embedded http server or client without a large framework, while got suits node.js developers who call web apis from server-side code.
Are cpp-httplib and got free?
cpp-httplib: Free and open source. got: Free and open source.
Is cpp-httplib or got more popular?
cpp-httplib has more GitHub stars (17k) than got (15k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to cpp-httplib and got?
Other options people compare them with include JSON for Modern C++, EnTT, ky, axios, superagent.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.